Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government approved an expansion of the EU’s anti-pirate mission off the coast of Somalia on Wednesday to allow military strikes on land. German commentators share the opposition’s skepticism and worries about risk.Â more…

Using private security firms to protect ships from Somali pirates has long been a legal gray area in Germany. Conceding that it doesn’t have enough soldiers to do the job, the German government isÂ considering a draft lawÂ allowing shipowners to deploy private armed guards. But there’s oneÂ caveat:Â Security personnelÂ would be limited to using semi-automatic firearms.Â By Simone UtlerÂ more…

NORFOLK, Va. â€“ Â A crewmember from a German ship that was hijacked off the coast of Somalia in 2010 testified that pirates threatened to execute him, suffocated him by placing a plastic bag over his head and led him to believe the ship’s captain had been killed during his eight-month ordeal.

Ukrainian Oleg Dereglazov also said one crew member had his genitals painfully tied together with plastic ties. He detailed the torture aboard the Marida Marguerite on Thursday during Mohammad Saaili Shibin’s trial.

Shibin has been charged with piracy, hostage-taking and other federal charges in connection with the ship’s hijacking. Shibin also faces charges in the hijacking of an American yacht in which all four passengers were shot and killed.

Prosecutors say Shibin was a hostage negotiator. He has pleaded not guilty.